'Learning to live again' with U.S. Paralympian Weggemann

Mallory Weggemann (right) shows off the Paralympic gold medal she won at London 2012.

Story highlights

Mallory Weggemann won a gold and bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympics

The U.S. swimmer lost the use of her legs after an epidural injection in 2008

Weggemann holds 15 world records and 34 American records

She returned to a rehab center for the first time since her own injury four years ago

Just like that and everything you know can change. People say life can change in the blink of an eye and throughout my 23 years I have seen that happen many times.

One minute you are getting on with life and then suddenly your world changes.

I recently visited a young lady in a rehabilitation hospital. She was paralyzed on July 4 and is still an inpatient as she continues with her rehabilitation and learns how to live in a new body.

She is 28 and in a single moment her life changed forever. She is a beautiful, strong woman who is learning to live all over again.

Mallory Weggemann 4 photos

Mallory Weggemann4 photos

Mallory Weggemann – Mallory Weggemann is a U.S. Paralympic swimmer who turned to the sport after a routine epidural in 2008 left her paralyzed from the waist down.

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From disaster to triumph – Despite being switched into a more difficult category at the London 2012 Games, Weggemann sealed a shock gold medal in the S8 50m freestyle event.

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The end of a journey – The Minnesota native says winning a gold medal felt like the end of what had been a long journey.

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Relay success – In addition to her individual success, Weggemann also won a bronze medal as part of the the American 4 x 100m medley relay 34 points.

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EXPAND GALLERY

Classifiying Paralympic ability 7 photos

Classifiying Paralympic ability7 photos

Classifying disability – Due to the Paralympics' classification rules, South Africa's double amputee "Blade Runner" Oscar Pistorius can line up against runners with only one prosthetic leg.

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Defying the odds – Chinese swimmer Zheng Tao has no arms, but that didn't stop him winning gold against competitors more physically abled.

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Level playing field? – Britain's gold medalist Jonathan Fox looked "more able" outside the pool than his swimming rivals, according to former Canadian Paralympic middle-distance runner David Howe, who is now an academic.

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Controversial changes – Paralympic swimmer Mallory Weggemann, along with U.S. teammate Victoria Arlen, have both battled the International Paralympic Committee after having their classifications changed.

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Breaking it down – Athletes are placed in one of six main disability groups: those with spinal injuries, cerebral palsy, amputees, the blind or visually impaired, intellectual disabilities and those whose disabilities fall outside of those categories, like those born with dwarfism or multiple sclerosis.

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From 1 to 10 – Each of the Paralympics' 20 sports are divided between the different classifications and given a number that denotes the severity of the disability -- 1 being the most severe, 10 the least.

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'Look to the potential' – The IPC has complicated things further by trying to slim down the number of medals and disciplines and look beyond the disability as the defining factor in classification. Instead, it says, look to the potential of the athlete.

Visiting her reminded me that it was the first time I had been back to an inpatient rehab hospital since I was discharged in March 2008. As I sat talking with her and her family the memories flooded back.

Seeing her parents and sister reminded me of my own family dealing with the change I underwent in my life. Seeing her reminded me a lot of myself.

Scared but hopeful, determined but discouraged, unsure of what life would be like moving forward. We have to somehow find a way of picking ourselves up and continuing with life the best we can.

We spent some time talking about anger and letting go. Our situations are very different, but we both have to deal with letting go.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gold medalist Oscar Pistorius of South Africa throws a bouquet of flowers on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 400-meter T44 final Saturday, September 8, at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The United States' Joseph Chambers reaches for the ball during Saturday's bronze medal wheelchair basketball game between United States and Great Britain.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Yang Ge serves against Poland's Sebastian Powrozniak during the men's team table tennis Class 9-10 final on Saturday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Australian Madison De Rozario looks on prior to the women's 400-meter T53 final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Aniek Van Koot, left, and Jiske Griffioen of the Netherlands in action against Marjolein Buis and Esther Vergeer, also of the of Netherlands, in the women's doubles gold medal match.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Richard Browne of the United States competes in the men's high jump F46 final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Africa's Oscar Pistorius, also known as the "Blade Runner," crosses the line to win gold in the men's 400-meter T44 final. Pistorius also competed in the London Olympics.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – No. 13 Derrick Helton of the United States attempts to get the ball from No. 13 Jared Funk of Canada during Saturday's mixed wheelchair rugby semifinal match between the U.S. and Canada.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Thailand's Pattaya Tadtong, right, celebrates beating Britain's David Smith, left, in the final of the boccia individual BC1 competition on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The sun sets as Shingo Kunieda of Japan, front left, plays against Stephane Houdet of France in the men's wheelchair tennis gold medal match on Saturday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand prepares to compete Saturday in the women's 100-meter breaststroke SB9 final.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – From left to right: Canada's Brent Lakatos passes over to teammate Alexandre Dupont and Mexico's Juan Pablo Cervantes Garcia to Jaime Ramirez Valencia in the men's 4x400-meter relay on Saturday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Korea's Choi Ye-Jin watches her shot in the gold medal final of the boccia mixed individual BC3 competition against South Korea's Jeong Ho-won on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Simon Wilson, left, of Great Britain competes against Tang Tat Wong of Hong Kong during the men's open wheelchair fencing quarter-final match on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jack Bridge of Great Britain celebrates after his men's 100-meter breaststroke on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tim Prendergast of New Zealand competes in the men's 800-meter T13 final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A volunteer holds a ball during the soccer match between Great Britain and Turkey on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Abdellatif Baka of Algeria reacts after winning the gold during the men's 800-meter T13 final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Audrey Le Morvan of France prepares to serve against Poland in the women's team table tennis bronze medal match on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Toshihiro Takada of Japan competes in the men's 200-meter T52 heats on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Neda Bahi of Tunisia crosses the line to win gold ahead of silver medalist Viktoriya Kravchenko of Ukraine, No. 1389, and bronze medalist Evgeniya Trushnikova of Russia, No. 1337, in the women's 400-meter T37 final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Faridul Bin Masri of Malaysia competes in the men's javelin throw final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Robbi Weldon and Lynne Bessette of Canada ride in the women's cycling road race on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Doniyor Saliev of Uzbekistan competes in the men's triple jump F12 final on Saturday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A picture shows the shadow of competitors as they compete in the men's javelin throw F42 final on Friday, September 7.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Netherlands' Esther Vergeer keeps a spare ball in the spokes of her wheelchair as she plays Netherlands' Aniek Van Koot in the women's singles wheelchair tennis final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Thomas Schmidberger of Germany competes in the final of the Men's Team Table Tennis - Class 3 against China on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A detailed view of wheelchairs during the men's pool phase Group A rugby match between Great Britain and Japan on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A shadow of Lucy Shuker serving with partner (out of frame) Jordanne Whiley of Great Britain to Sakhorn Khanthasit and Ratana Techamaneewat of Thailand in the women's doubles bronze medal match for wheelchair tennis on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Great Britain fans cheer on their athletes on Friday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Kieran Tscherniawsky of Great Britain competes in the men's discus throw F32/33/34 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Africa's Johanna Pretorius competes in the women's long jump F13 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Valerie Grand-Maison of Canada celebrates after winning gold in the women's 200m individual medley - SM13 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Cristian Valenzuela of Chile and guide Cristopher Guajardo react as they win gold in the men's 5000m T11 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sarah Rung, right, of Norway touches the wall ahead of Teresa Perales, left, of Spain to win gold in the women's 50m butterfly - S5 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Silver medallist Dmitrii Kokarev of Russia, gold medallist Yang Yang of China and bronze medallist Arisdteidis Makrodimitris of Greece pose on the podium during the medal ceremony for the men's 50m freestyle - S2 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A medal bearer carries a medal and flowers on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The team of Finland celebrates after winning their men's team goalball gold medal match against Brazil on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Leomon Moreno Da Silva of Brazil and teammate Jose Roberto Ferreira De Oliveira block the ball during their men's team goalball gold-medal match against Finland on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Switzerland's Marcel Hug competes in the men's 400m - T54 final on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Rudy Garcia-Tolson, center, of the United States competes in the men's 100-meter T42 heats at the London 2012 Paralympic Gameson Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Oksana Zubkovska of Ukraine competes in the women's long jump F11/12 final on Friday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Li Duan competes in the men's triple jump F11 final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Yoojeong Lee of the Republic of Korea, right, shoots during the women's R8-50m rifle 3 positions-SH1 final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's Sarah Storey, left, bites her gold medal as her nephew Gethin Crayford holds it on the podium after she won the women's individual C4-5 road race cycling final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Fiona Southorn of New Zealand in action in the women's individual C 4-5 road race on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Michelle Alonso Morales of Spain celebrates after winning gold in the women's 100m breaststroke - SB14 final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Argentina's captain Silvio Velo runs past Brazilian players to shoot at goal during the men's 5-a-side football semi-final match between Argentina and Brazil on Thursday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jorge Benjamin Gonzalez Sauceda of Mexico celebrates winning bronze in the men's 400m - T12 final on Thursday, September 6.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Jeferson da Conceicao Goncalves is seen during the game against Argentina during the men's 5-a-side football semi-final match between Argentina and Brazil on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Samantha Cameron and David Cameron watch Great Britain play France during a Paralympic wheelchair rugby match on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain wins gold in the women's 200m - T34 final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gold medalist Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain is congratulated by Melissa Nicholls of Great Britain on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Silver medallist Edenia Garcia of Brazil poses on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women's 50m backstroke - S4 final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jonathan De Souza Santos of Brazil competes in the men's shot put - F40 on Thursday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jiri Jezek of the Czech Republic leads the group during the men's individual C4-5 road race in Longfield, England, on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Amy Conroy of Great Britain takes a shot during the women's classification crossover wheelchair basketball match between Great Britain and China on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Marieke Vervoort of Belgium reacts as she wins gold in the women's 100-meter T52 final on Day 7 of the London 2012 Paralympics on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Members of the Brazilian team huddle after the men's 4x100-meter relay T42/T46 final on Thursday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – South Africa's Oscar Pistorius lunges toward the finish line ahead of Brazil's Alan Oliveira as he anchors his team to win the men's 4x100-meter relay T42-46 final and set a new world record on Thursday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Czech Republic's Jiri Jezek reacts after winning the gold medal in the men's individual C4 time trial cycling final on Wednesday, September 5, at the London 2012 Paralympics in London.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Alessandro Zanardi of Italy celebrates winning the men's individual H4 time trial on Wednesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Nicholas Taylor of the United States plays a forehand in the quad doubles wheelchair tennis final on Wednesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Britain's David Anthony, center, reacts to scoring a goal against the United States during a Pool A wheelchair rugby match on Wednesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Kenny Allen of Great Britain reacts after losing the match against China in the semifinal of the men's team recurve on Wednesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Will Groulx, center, of the United States gets upended by Britain's Aaron Phipps, left, during the rugby match on Wednesday.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Tanto Campbell of Jamaica competes in the men's discus throw F54/55/56 final on Wednesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Jenny McLoughlin of Great Britain reacts after the women's 4x100-meter relay - T35/T38 in which her team won the bronze medal Wednesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazilian Terezinha Guilhermina loses her guide Guilherme Soares de Santana after he fell in the Women's 400-meter T12 final at the 2012 London Paralympic Games on Tuesday, September 4.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – British racer David Weir celebrates winning the Men's 1500-meter T54 final on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Chinese Daoliang Hu, left, on his way to winning gold against Ukrainian Anton Datsko on Tuesday during the men's final of wheelchair fencing.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Katharina Kruger of Germany plays a shot while competing with Sabine Ellerbrock against Jordanne Whiley and Lucy Shuker of Great Britain during the women's doubles wheelchair tennis quarterfinal match on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Yohansson Nascimento celebrates finishing second in the men's 400-meter T46 final on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Venezuela's Williams Barreto competes in the men's long jump - F20 final on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Walid Ktila of Tunisia crosses the line to win gold on Tuesday in the men's 200-meter - T34 final.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Daniel Silva of Brazil and guide Heitor de Oliveira Sales win silver in the men's 200-meter - T11 final on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Wells, Lee Pearson, Deborah Criddle and Sophie Christiansen of Great Britain wear their team gold medals for the equestrian event on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Wang Yanzhang competes in the men's shot put F34 final on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Natalie Schneider of the United States reaches for the ball in the women's wheelchair basketball quarterfinals against Canada on Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Venezuela's Jesus Aguilar swerves off the track as he approaches the finish line in the men's 800-meter T53 heats.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Turkey's Ramazan Kunduz uses the side wall for guidance during the men's team football 5-a-side B1 preliminary match Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ruslan Katyshev of Ukraine competes in the men's long jump F11 final Tuesday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Flavio Reitz competes in the men's high jump F42 final on Monday, September 3.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Russia's Sergey Malyshev shoots during the mixed 25-meter pistol final on Monday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Mickey Bushell of Great Britain crosses the line to win gold in the men's 100-meter final.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Matt Stutzman of the United States competes in men's individual compound archery.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Cuba's Omara Durand celebrates after taking the gold medal in the women's 400-meter final.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Filomeno Soares of East Timor competes in the men's 400-meter - T38 heats at Olympic Stadium. The winner, Venezuela's Omar Monterola, lies on the floor after crossing the finish line.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gordon Reid of Great Britain prepares to serve during the men's singles wheelchair tennis round 64 match against Takuya Miki of Japan in London on Saturday, September 1.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Brazil's Terezinha Guilhermina, left, prepares with her coach at the start of the women's 200-meter T11 race.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Hannah Cockroft of Great Britain competes in the women's 100 meters on day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Olympic Stadium on Friday, August 31.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Lahouari Bahlaz of Algeria competes in the men's club throw on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Sophie Pascoe of New Zealand in action during the women's 50-meter freestyle.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Julie Rogers, from left, Jessica Frezza, Martine Wright and Andrea Green of Great Britain react to a point during the opening game of the womens sitting volleyball tournament against Ukraine.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A spectator gets into the athletics action on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A competitor walks across the athletics track.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – James Crisp of Great Britain swims in the men's 100-meter backstroke.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Mark Colbourne of Great Britain competes in the men's individual cycling event.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Ukraine's Alla Lysenko (second in row) prepares to take part in the women single sculls heat on Friday.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Great Britain's Ade Oregbemi takes a tumble in the preliminary men's wheelchair basketball match, which Germany won 77-72, on Thursday, August 30.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The Great Britain team leaves the court losing to China during the women's goalball match between China and Great Britain.

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paralympics fri 07 – LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 31: General view of Greenwich Park equestrian venue as competitors take part the Dressage event on day 2 of the London 2012 Paralympic Games at Greenwich Park on August 31, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – China's Zheng Tao celebrates breaking the world record after winning the men's 100-meter backstroke swimming event.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Gold medalist Sarah Storey of Great Britain poses on the podium during the victory ceremony for women's cycling.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The Australian women's wheelchair basketball team huddles and celebrates their victory during their preliminary basketball game against Brazil.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Fans watch the preliminary wheelchair men's basketball match between Great Britain and Germany, which Germany won 77-72.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The United States' Jessica Long, left, and Ukraine's Kateryna Istomina compete in the women's 100-meter butterfly.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The Netherlands' Inge Huitzing passes the ball as Britain's Laurie Williams, left, and Caroline Maclean defend during the preliminary women's group A wheelchair basketball match.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Prince William and his wife, Catherine, applaud as they watch British cyclist Sarah Storey break a world record in her C5 individual pursuit heat.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Natalie du Toit of South Africa competes in the women's 100-meter butterfly heat.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A volunteer moves the prosthetic leg of Sven Decaesstecker of Belgium during the men's SM10 200-meter individual medley swimming heat.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Natalie Smith of Australia competes in the Women's R2-10-meter air rifle standing SH1 finals.

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Torchbearers exchange the Paralympic flame outside Westminster Abbey in London on Wednesday, August 29.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A young boy waits for the arrival of the Paralympic torch in Trafalgar Square ahead of the start of the Games.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – The cauldron is lit as the four Paralympic flames, which were lit on the UK's highest peaks, are united at Stoke Mandeville Hospital during the torch relay on Tuesday, August 28, in Aylesbury, England.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Members of Team GB Paralympic look on as they are welcomed by dancers during a ceremony at the Paralympic Village.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Paralympic athletes from Switzerland push their wheelchairs ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos198 photos

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Dancers perform during a welcome ceremony at the Paralympic Village.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos198 photos

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – A general view shows the Olympic Velodrome.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos198 photos

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Members of Team GB Paralympic are cheered on by dancers.

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Paralympics 2012: The best photos198 photos

Paralympics 2012: The best photos – Flags fly in the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

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Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics 7 photos

Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics7 photos

Gold medal hero – Alex Zanardi proudly displays the gold medal he won at the 2012 London Paralympics in the Individual H4 Time Trial.

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Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics7 photos

True champion – Before taking up hand cycling, he had previously driven on the same Brands Hatch circuit, 20 miles outside of London, in a touring car.

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Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics7 photos

Speed king – Zanardi decided to give up his motor racing career three years ago at the age of 42, having continued it despite a life-threatening crash in 2001.

Inspiring comeback – Zanardi made a successful return to motorsport after his horror crash and raced in single seaters and touring cars, using prosthetic limbs and modified vehicles.

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Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics7 photos

Award winner – Zanardi was honored for his incredible comeback at the Laureus World Sports awards in 2005.

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Alex Zanardi: F1 to Paralympics7 photos

Champagne lifestyle – While he struggled in four seasons in Formula One, Zanardi enjoyed success in open-wheel racing as he twice won the U.S. CART series.

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She went out on a boat and had a few drinks, like nearly everyone else in the state of Minnesota that day. When she dived into the lake to cool off she hit her head on a rock. She has now spent months in the hospital fighting to get movement back.

I have anger towards myself and the medical system and she has the same. We were injured very differently but both of our stories come down to choices; choices that both of us made which we will have to live with for the rest of our lives.

They are choices we are both reminded of every day when we wake up and see our wheelchairs by our bedside. It is something which will always be a part of us but it is also something which makes us who we are.

It will drive us to help make a difference in this world but it will also always remind us of our sudden moment of impact.

These past few years I have been afraid to go back to a rehab hospital because I was unsure I would be able to handle it emotionally, but as I sat with her there I experienced some healing.

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Cyclist Victoria Pendleton waves to the fans after winning both a gold and a silver medal at the Olympics.

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London 2012: The victory parade19 photos

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Swimmer Eleanor Simmonds, known as "Ellie", waves to the crowds as she walks along during the Victory Parade. Simmonds won two gold medals and a silver at the Paralympics.

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London 2012: The victory parade19 photos

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Thousands of spectators filled out Fleet Street, London as the Victory Parade passed through.

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Members of the Olympics rowing team create a pyramid atop one of the floats.

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London 2012: The victory parade19 photos

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Spectators watch the Victory Parade as it passes by on Fleet Street, London.

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London 2012: The victory parade19 photos

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Track sprinter Dwain Chambers salutes the crowd. Chambers almost missed out on participating in the Olympics after failing a drugs test in 2003. His life ban was overturned in April, 2012.

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London 2012: The victory parade19 photos

London 2012: The Victory Parade – Mayor of London Boris Johnson cycles along the parade route ahead of the arrival of the Team GB and Paralympic GB athletes.

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I was able to talk to someone who understood. I was able to share my story with her and her family and give them hope for what she can have moving forward.

As I sat there wearing my brown leather boots with a heal I heard her ask in a very excited hopeful voice, "You can wear boots?"

Now as someone who has been where she has, realizing something so small as being able to wear boots again someday is exciting. It resembles being able to get back to who you were before and not being trapped wearing sweats and slippers because you can't get anything else on.

The small things are what build up and make the big things. Realizing slowly but surely you can get parts of your life back, even if it is as simple as gaining hope that someday you will be able to wear your favorite boots again.

When I left her in the hospital I thought of where I was nearly five years ago. I couldn't sit up on my own, I couldn't feed myself or dress myself. I was 100% dependent on people around me and now I am back to being stubbornly independent.

I thought of the journey my loved ones and myself have been on. How we as a family overcame this and where we are today as we approach my five-year anniversary.

As I left I realized once again everything happens for a reason. It reminded me where I came from and where I am now.

It connected me with someone in a way I have never had before and most of all I was able to give them hope to believe again in what the future could hold.